As some of you may be aware, I've started the full-time MBA program at UT. With the hectic schedule and time consuming school work I've decided to end my search and finally commit to a studio. But...before I tell you which one I want to show you the final rankings:
1. Breath & Body Yoga: 4.25/5
2. BFree Yoga: 4.25/5
3. Yoga Vida: 4/5
4. Black Swan Yoga: 3/5
5. Castle Hill Yoga: 2.5/5
6. Sunstone Yoga: 2/5
7. Yoga Groove: 1/5
Of course, I've also sprinkled some other Yoga experiences in there but none that I wished to rank, as far as studios go. This process has been so enjoyable, and not only have I really started to understand what makes "good" yoga, I've also completely transformed into a dedicated yogi. My practice gets stronger every class.
That being said, this week I signed an auto-renewal contract with BFree! Although they were tied with Breath & Body for my favorite, I really like the owner, Shelby Autry, as well as the atmosphere in each class. They take yoga very seriously and employ fantastic instructors, while at the same time making yoga fun and enjoyable. I'm excited to have a home studio and I hope you all check it out.
Namaste!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
SUP Paddleboard Yoga!
This morning my friend Kelly and I went down to Town Lake and did some amazing paddleboard yoga. We didn't know what to expect, how the class would go, or really anything before getting started but by the end we were hooked and plan on going again soon.
The beginner class (this morning) is 90 minutes long. Even though it says beginner I would suggest that you've done yoga before in order to take the class because it's not as guided as a normal studio class. I think our instructor, Zach, had a certain plan for us but we had some more advanced ideas. In addition to getting used to the board we moved on to sun salutations, warriors, and I even succeeded in doing a headstand and wheel!
Some of the challenges were simple balance! Warrior one was probably the hardest because you aren't perfectly centered. It was awesome. The weather was also perfect with a nice breeze and some cloud cover.
The company we went through was called SUP ATX Yoga and they are doing complimentary classes the entire month of July so we're going to try and squeeze another one in. Our instructor was fairly sure that once a charge starts it'll be the standard $15 that comes with normal paddleboard rental.
I would highly suggest trying this out, it was SO much fun and such a new and different experience!
The beginner class (this morning) is 90 minutes long. Even though it says beginner I would suggest that you've done yoga before in order to take the class because it's not as guided as a normal studio class. I think our instructor, Zach, had a certain plan for us but we had some more advanced ideas. In addition to getting used to the board we moved on to sun salutations, warriors, and I even succeeded in doing a headstand and wheel!
Some of the challenges were simple balance! Warrior one was probably the hardest because you aren't perfectly centered. It was awesome. The weather was also perfect with a nice breeze and some cloud cover.
The company we went through was called SUP ATX Yoga and they are doing complimentary classes the entire month of July so we're going to try and squeeze another one in. Our instructor was fairly sure that once a charge starts it'll be the standard $15 that comes with normal paddleboard rental.
I would highly suggest trying this out, it was SO much fun and such a new and different experience!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
First Impression: Yoga Groove
Last week I signed up for my 2-week trial at Yoga Groove, and I have to admit I just don't like Bikram yoga. I'm not going to blame this totally on the studio but I really prefer Power Flow and Vinyasa style yoga so I don't know that I will continue with this studio, nor others that offer only Bikram yoga. If you want those write-ups you may have to find someone who loves it!
I had done Bikram previously but maybe only once or twice, and this experience just made me want to shun it forever. For some reason my body just did not cooperate with me and I left with symptoms mirroring those of heat exhaustion...chills, black out, etc. It was probably my fault for going to a 5:30pm class on a 100 degree day that was packed full, but still very unfortunate :(
However, I do want to talk to the studio. Yoga Groove is very large and almost comes across as corporate. I got a key card for just doing the 2-week trial! When I showed up it was a little hectic, I'm not sure if the woman at the front desk was new or what, but since class was starting I needed to leave my credit card with her so she could properly register me. As I walked in I saw that there was a nice locker room and rooms for massage...so I think they do those as well?
With the trial period you could get a mat and towel without being charged, but moving forward for members it is $1 each for rental, not too bad but no smaller towels...and you will need them. The studio was carpeted which I'm not a huge fan of, and I think that made it even more hot. I am well aware Bikram is supposed to be 105 degrees, but it was closer to 120...the instructor opened the doors and turned it down about half way through so that was more bearable.
Our instructor was Erin, and I have to admit that she was kind of harsh with the way she conducted the class. To me yoga is spiritual, relaxation mixed with strength and flexibility training but her voice and demeanor was similar to a boot camp instructor, and it wasn't very peaceful. I wasn't a fan of this style, she also stood on a pedestal above the rest of the class so that was kind of odd too.
Overall, I can see fans of Bikram liking the schedule since there are a lot of options for classes, the large facility and the open nature of the facility. Personally it's not my cup of tea, so I'll most likely skip any of the Bikram studios on my plan after now :( Sorry to disappoint but the experience just wasn't what I'm looking for.
I had done Bikram previously but maybe only once or twice, and this experience just made me want to shun it forever. For some reason my body just did not cooperate with me and I left with symptoms mirroring those of heat exhaustion...chills, black out, etc. It was probably my fault for going to a 5:30pm class on a 100 degree day that was packed full, but still very unfortunate :(
However, I do want to talk to the studio. Yoga Groove is very large and almost comes across as corporate. I got a key card for just doing the 2-week trial! When I showed up it was a little hectic, I'm not sure if the woman at the front desk was new or what, but since class was starting I needed to leave my credit card with her so she could properly register me. As I walked in I saw that there was a nice locker room and rooms for massage...so I think they do those as well?
With the trial period you could get a mat and towel without being charged, but moving forward for members it is $1 each for rental, not too bad but no smaller towels...and you will need them. The studio was carpeted which I'm not a huge fan of, and I think that made it even more hot. I am well aware Bikram is supposed to be 105 degrees, but it was closer to 120...the instructor opened the doors and turned it down about half way through so that was more bearable.
Our instructor was Erin, and I have to admit that she was kind of harsh with the way she conducted the class. To me yoga is spiritual, relaxation mixed with strength and flexibility training but her voice and demeanor was similar to a boot camp instructor, and it wasn't very peaceful. I wasn't a fan of this style, she also stood on a pedestal above the rest of the class so that was kind of odd too.
Overall, I can see fans of Bikram liking the schedule since there are a lot of options for classes, the large facility and the open nature of the facility. Personally it's not my cup of tea, so I'll most likely skip any of the Bikram studios on my plan after now :( Sorry to disappoint but the experience just wasn't what I'm looking for.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Final Rating: Yoga Vida
I've just finished my month-long trial period at Yoga Vida and really enjoyed it. Before I get into my final rating I'd like to go over the final two instructors that I've had since my last post.
Vic - he was great!!! The class was very challenging and he was very good giving us moderations to make the poses easier or more difficult. It was the most crowded class I've been to at Yoga Vida so that just proves that he has the attention of the members. His level of motivation was very high and I felt really good throughout the class that continued after I left. He definitely has a Baptiste style practice.
Zoe - this is the second time I've had Zoe, I had also taken her at Bfree. I have to say that she was just as consistent and well-practiced as I remembered. It was another very full class which just proves she's popular too! Her style is more yogi than some others but I think it really grounds you and requires focus on your practice.
I also heard from a friend that Carly is great, but unfortunately my month ran out before I got a chance to try her out, so I would suggest making it work if you do the trial or get a membership. Ok...moving on!
The classes at Yoga Vida overall were fantastic. I've learned that I really enjoy the consistency that comes from the Baron Baptiste trained instructors and the studios that follow his practice. They are generally very challenging and help you explore moderations that allow you to grow your practice instead of doing the same thing each class. I love to improve and test my strength and balance and the classes I've had over the past month all did that for me. I would have to say that my favorite instructor over the course of the month was Vic, his class appealed most to what I look for when I'm walking into yoga.
There are two facilities that you can use with your membership to Yoga Vida, one is located on 7th and West and the other off Bee Caves road in Westlake. I only went to the Westlake location once, but liked the downtown location better. The Bee Caves location is carpeted and doesn't have a shower which is a downer for me as far as a full-time studio is concerned. As far as I know, all instructors bounce between both studios so whatever times and classes are convenient for you will be enjoyed.
The downtown location does have a shower and a larger locker room area. This is helpful if you have to go somewhere (work, class, etc.) after the class, which is normally the case for me. There are a couple things that disappointed me about the studio, the lack of little towels and the lack of cleaning solution. With the heated nature of the classes you definitely need a towel, even just a small one, which I almost ALWAYS would forget. They don't have any hand towels to use during class so it's slightly difficult to focus if you can't wipe down. In addition, because you are sweaty if there is no cleaning solution you are putting your mat back into your hot car to sit...it would be an easy improvement to make!
A major plus is that even the downtown studio has decent parking behind the studio so you never have to worry about needing a meter or paying for parking. I really liked Yoga Vida and my time there flew by! I would definitely suggest it, especially the new one month trial for $40. You will enjoy the practice and the locations.
Ratings:
Classes: 4.5/5
Facility: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Next..on to Yoga Groove:)
Vic - he was great!!! The class was very challenging and he was very good giving us moderations to make the poses easier or more difficult. It was the most crowded class I've been to at Yoga Vida so that just proves that he has the attention of the members. His level of motivation was very high and I felt really good throughout the class that continued after I left. He definitely has a Baptiste style practice.
Zoe - this is the second time I've had Zoe, I had also taken her at Bfree. I have to say that she was just as consistent and well-practiced as I remembered. It was another very full class which just proves she's popular too! Her style is more yogi than some others but I think it really grounds you and requires focus on your practice.
I also heard from a friend that Carly is great, but unfortunately my month ran out before I got a chance to try her out, so I would suggest making it work if you do the trial or get a membership. Ok...moving on!
The classes at Yoga Vida overall were fantastic. I've learned that I really enjoy the consistency that comes from the Baron Baptiste trained instructors and the studios that follow his practice. They are generally very challenging and help you explore moderations that allow you to grow your practice instead of doing the same thing each class. I love to improve and test my strength and balance and the classes I've had over the past month all did that for me. I would have to say that my favorite instructor over the course of the month was Vic, his class appealed most to what I look for when I'm walking into yoga.
There are two facilities that you can use with your membership to Yoga Vida, one is located on 7th and West and the other off Bee Caves road in Westlake. I only went to the Westlake location once, but liked the downtown location better. The Bee Caves location is carpeted and doesn't have a shower which is a downer for me as far as a full-time studio is concerned. As far as I know, all instructors bounce between both studios so whatever times and classes are convenient for you will be enjoyed.
The downtown location does have a shower and a larger locker room area. This is helpful if you have to go somewhere (work, class, etc.) after the class, which is normally the case for me. There are a couple things that disappointed me about the studio, the lack of little towels and the lack of cleaning solution. With the heated nature of the classes you definitely need a towel, even just a small one, which I almost ALWAYS would forget. They don't have any hand towels to use during class so it's slightly difficult to focus if you can't wipe down. In addition, because you are sweaty if there is no cleaning solution you are putting your mat back into your hot car to sit...it would be an easy improvement to make!
A major plus is that even the downtown studio has decent parking behind the studio so you never have to worry about needing a meter or paying for parking. I really liked Yoga Vida and my time there flew by! I would definitely suggest it, especially the new one month trial for $40. You will enjoy the practice and the locations.
Ratings:
Classes: 4.5/5
Facility: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Next..on to Yoga Groove:)
Monday, June 27, 2011
Instructors: Yoga Vida
Before I get into instructors I wanted to mention that I went to the Bee Cave Rd. location one morning for a workout. Please note that location does not have a shower! I went to a morning class expecting it and there was none...this needs to be outlined on the website, maybe in an amenities section?
Another thing I've noticed is that they don't provide little towels. This is a disappointment because if I forget mine or decide last minute to practice I'm stuck slipping and sliding all over my mat, very sad. I would also like to suggest that they get some spray bottles of cleaner - my mat stays in my car = stinky car.
Okay, so I've had three different instructors so far. Yoga Vida seems to have a fewer number of teachers than other studios so I've taken a few classes from each. The first is Dean, who I think is the owner/manager of the downtown location. He is SO funny, everything he says in class is really quirky and a little out there, but it is entertaining! I have to say I actually laugh out loud in my poses...you would think it might distract but it makes it more light and I like that. Also, you can tell that he is trained through Baron Baptiste (same program as Breath & Body Yoga) because all of his classes are challenging and a good workout. He teaches a LOT of the classes downtown so there are a lot of chances to take a class with him, but sometimes I wish there was little more variety.
I took my class at the Bee Caves location with Kim, she was fantastic. Her cadence was really good, especially for an early morning yoga session. I sweat a TON in that class and I like the adjustments she made. I wish she would teach a couple classes at the downtown too since it's more convenient for me!
Finally, yesterday I took class with Lara and she made me feel good! Her class was a great balance of strength and stretching. So far, she's the only instructor who has asked if we had a preference for the class and I always take advantage of that and ask for hips. It was only 3 of us which was nice because she was able to give us adjustments as well as suggestions on how to make each pose more challenging. You can tell it comes naturally to her.
I look forward to mixing up my times so I can experience more instructors!! So far, so good.
Another thing I've noticed is that they don't provide little towels. This is a disappointment because if I forget mine or decide last minute to practice I'm stuck slipping and sliding all over my mat, very sad. I would also like to suggest that they get some spray bottles of cleaner - my mat stays in my car = stinky car.
Okay, so I've had three different instructors so far. Yoga Vida seems to have a fewer number of teachers than other studios so I've taken a few classes from each. The first is Dean, who I think is the owner/manager of the downtown location. He is SO funny, everything he says in class is really quirky and a little out there, but it is entertaining! I have to say I actually laugh out loud in my poses...you would think it might distract but it makes it more light and I like that. Also, you can tell that he is trained through Baron Baptiste (same program as Breath & Body Yoga) because all of his classes are challenging and a good workout. He teaches a LOT of the classes downtown so there are a lot of chances to take a class with him, but sometimes I wish there was little more variety.
I took my class at the Bee Caves location with Kim, she was fantastic. Her cadence was really good, especially for an early morning yoga session. I sweat a TON in that class and I like the adjustments she made. I wish she would teach a couple classes at the downtown too since it's more convenient for me!
Finally, yesterday I took class with Lara and she made me feel good! Her class was a great balance of strength and stretching. So far, she's the only instructor who has asked if we had a preference for the class and I always take advantage of that and ask for hips. It was only 3 of us which was nice because she was able to give us adjustments as well as suggestions on how to make each pose more challenging. You can tell it comes naturally to her.
I look forward to mixing up my times so I can experience more instructors!! So far, so good.
Friday, June 10, 2011
First Impression: Yoga Vida
Yesterday I had my first yoga experience at Yoga Vida. It was the next trial on my list and an added bonus is that they just changed from an unlimited $20 for one week trial to $40 for an unlimited month trial! They have two studios, one downtown and one in Westlake, and the trial membership can be used at both.
I took my first class at the downtown location which surprisingly has parking! There are a couple spots in the front and then some down the alley in the back (if you are going north on West Lynn you can turn left into the alley). The studio is really clean and nice. The bathrooms have one shower and some space to get ready, and you store your belongings on the shelves inside the bathroom area. There aren't any towels though for either sweating or showering...so I wasn't prepared for that and substituted my shirt.
The room itself at the downtown location is nice. It's wood floor with bamboo walls and fairly large. The one thing I'm not yet sure about is the lack of mirrors. I can see how some people would like no mirrors but I enjoy being able to self adjust because I can see my mis-alignment in the mirror...I'll let you know after a couple more classes how I feel about it (haven't had this experience before).
The purchase and sign-in seems to be headed up by whichever instructor is teaching the next class which is pretty typical. It was very easy and quick and they have both of the class schedules on nice small business cards so you can conveniently keep them in your wallet! You can buy water for $2 and it's a fairly large bottle, you can also rent a mat for $2 if you don't have one.
The class I took was taught by Sanieh. I was expecting more of a power yoga class and we focused mostly on core work, but I can't complain my stomach can also use more work during bikini season. It was good core work and very challenging. She definitely knew was she was doing and walked around to teach instead of practicing with us. I'll have more thoughts once I take a vinyasa style class.
Overall I'm impressed so far and look forward to the next month!
I took my first class at the downtown location which surprisingly has parking! There are a couple spots in the front and then some down the alley in the back (if you are going north on West Lynn you can turn left into the alley). The studio is really clean and nice. The bathrooms have one shower and some space to get ready, and you store your belongings on the shelves inside the bathroom area. There aren't any towels though for either sweating or showering...so I wasn't prepared for that and substituted my shirt.
The room itself at the downtown location is nice. It's wood floor with bamboo walls and fairly large. The one thing I'm not yet sure about is the lack of mirrors. I can see how some people would like no mirrors but I enjoy being able to self adjust because I can see my mis-alignment in the mirror...I'll let you know after a couple more classes how I feel about it (haven't had this experience before).
The purchase and sign-in seems to be headed up by whichever instructor is teaching the next class which is pretty typical. It was very easy and quick and they have both of the class schedules on nice small business cards so you can conveniently keep them in your wallet! You can buy water for $2 and it's a fairly large bottle, you can also rent a mat for $2 if you don't have one.
The class I took was taught by Sanieh. I was expecting more of a power yoga class and we focused mostly on core work, but I can't complain my stomach can also use more work during bikini season. It was good core work and very challenging. She definitely knew was she was doing and walked around to teach instead of practicing with us. I'll have more thoughts once I take a vinyasa style class.
Overall I'm impressed so far and look forward to the next month!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Final Rating: Castle Hill Yoga
So, I've taken a few more instructors at CH that I want to share before going into my final ratings. The first is Gioconda who I had taken classes with at BFree - I have to admit that I loved her there and she's just as good at CH :) However, since she's not unique to CH I don't know that it's a huge selling point for the studio itself. The second is Christina Sells.
I was told that Christina is famous. She has written books, been doing yoga forever, taught numerous current instructors, etc. I have taken one class with her and I will say she is very skilled. She also gives off an air of really loving what she is doing and getting excited at accomplishments that her students make in class. For example, we watched some demonstrations of things to try and when it was over we'd clap. Then if someone else tried...we'd clap again, a lot of clapping :) The disappointment I had was with how many times we stopped to watch others, I didn't feel like I got much of a practice in. I completely understand that there were a lot of instructors in the class and that they want to learn more, but as a practice it was slow moving and a little random, plus we did TONS of back bends (oooh shoulders!)
Those two instructors rounded out my evaluation of Castle Hill (CH for short). Overall, I felt the classes were OK. The problem I had was with the inconsistency, for example, one class with the same description was way too easy for me, while another one was very challenging...make it a total toss up until you got the hang of it. Unfortunately, once I got the hang of it I realized there were only two instructors I enjoyed in that I would come back on a regular basis: Jeremiah and Gioconda. One is leaving and the other teaches across a few studios.
The other class issue I had was with the times. I explained this in my initial update but the morning classes are only the self-guided classes, which I strongly disliked. In addition, there is only one time for evening classes (6pm) so they were very easy to miss if I had to work late, with no extended or evening options. I did think though that the weekend availabilities were good. Black Swan was still my go-to for flexibility in my practice throughout my time with CH.
Castle Hill is a maze of exercise. There is a cafe, 2 yoga rooms (with a 3rd across the street in it's own building) and so much equipment. The yoga room in which I took most of my classes was upstairs...and next to another room where there were dance and martial arts practices. Numerous times the floor started vibrating in our relaxation due to the music of the other room. The studio across the street was great. It was perfect for yoga with all of the tools to use, good light, nice floor...but since it's separate you have to sign in at the regular desk and walk over...I think that's why there aren't more classes taught there. I was surprised actually because it was the nicest facility in the entirety of CH.
Going back to my initial post - there are perks to having a full gym, including shower, bathroom, lockers and space. The feel though was more of a gym than a yoga studio - I like the quiet, relaxed understanding that all yogis have before and after practice that is disturbed some by others who were just lifting weights to loud iPod tunes. Trust me I like that too...but not when I'm going to practice yoga :)
Overall, I can see how some would really like CH - especially if you are looking for a yoga + gym membership or if you are a big fan of Christina Sells (she is a fantastic influence on yoga). It wasn't for me so I'm done at CH and moving on to Yoga Vida...stay tuned.
Ratings:
Classes: 3/5
Facility: 2/5
Overall: 2.5/5
I was told that Christina is famous. She has written books, been doing yoga forever, taught numerous current instructors, etc. I have taken one class with her and I will say she is very skilled. She also gives off an air of really loving what she is doing and getting excited at accomplishments that her students make in class. For example, we watched some demonstrations of things to try and when it was over we'd clap. Then if someone else tried...we'd clap again, a lot of clapping :) The disappointment I had was with how many times we stopped to watch others, I didn't feel like I got much of a practice in. I completely understand that there were a lot of instructors in the class and that they want to learn more, but as a practice it was slow moving and a little random, plus we did TONS of back bends (oooh shoulders!)
Those two instructors rounded out my evaluation of Castle Hill (CH for short). Overall, I felt the classes were OK. The problem I had was with the inconsistency, for example, one class with the same description was way too easy for me, while another one was very challenging...make it a total toss up until you got the hang of it. Unfortunately, once I got the hang of it I realized there were only two instructors I enjoyed in that I would come back on a regular basis: Jeremiah and Gioconda. One is leaving and the other teaches across a few studios.
The other class issue I had was with the times. I explained this in my initial update but the morning classes are only the self-guided classes, which I strongly disliked. In addition, there is only one time for evening classes (6pm) so they were very easy to miss if I had to work late, with no extended or evening options. I did think though that the weekend availabilities were good. Black Swan was still my go-to for flexibility in my practice throughout my time with CH.
Castle Hill is a maze of exercise. There is a cafe, 2 yoga rooms (with a 3rd across the street in it's own building) and so much equipment. The yoga room in which I took most of my classes was upstairs...and next to another room where there were dance and martial arts practices. Numerous times the floor started vibrating in our relaxation due to the music of the other room. The studio across the street was great. It was perfect for yoga with all of the tools to use, good light, nice floor...but since it's separate you have to sign in at the regular desk and walk over...I think that's why there aren't more classes taught there. I was surprised actually because it was the nicest facility in the entirety of CH.
Going back to my initial post - there are perks to having a full gym, including shower, bathroom, lockers and space. The feel though was more of a gym than a yoga studio - I like the quiet, relaxed understanding that all yogis have before and after practice that is disturbed some by others who were just lifting weights to loud iPod tunes. Trust me I like that too...but not when I'm going to practice yoga :)
Overall, I can see how some would really like CH - especially if you are looking for a yoga + gym membership or if you are a big fan of Christina Sells (she is a fantastic influence on yoga). It wasn't for me so I'm done at CH and moving on to Yoga Vida...stay tuned.
Ratings:
Classes: 3/5
Facility: 2/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)